I went to the American Museum of Natural History in New York City to see the Dinosaurs. They were amazing, but I was even more blown away when I happened upon the Pacific Peoples exhibition. I walked into the hall, towards the back was a huge Easter Island Moai. (insert chorus here). I am a huge tiki fan, I immediately went towards the sculpture and gave him a big hug. The exhibit is a must-see for any tiki collector. Check out photos on my blog http://populuxebooks.com/blog/index.php/2006/09/27/american_museum_of_natural_history_tikis

The natural history museum does have a very large collection of south pacific art. To my wife's chagrin, I spent some time in the rather out-of -the-way exhibit trying to photgraph as much as I could for carving reference. The artifacts are all the real deal with a sample from just about every island nation in the south pacific. They had quite a few PNG masks, marquesin tikis, and maori carvings. I'll see if I can post pics in a bit.

The Moai is not the real deal, I don't believe it's even lava rock. I remember it sounding more plastic-y when I knocked on it.

I asked my friend who has been to Easter Island to look at the pix and he said if he had to guess, he would say it's a fake. However, he thinks he read an article about it and apparently, it is real and although one of the smaller Moai from Easter Island it is very rare, because it is one of the only ones removed from the island.

On 2006-10-17 23:30, Koolau wrote:are there any actual moai on display outside of Rapa Nui? If so, where?

The Moai in the museum in NYC is fake.

I was there in May and photographed it extensively.

Populuxe is right about one thing - the Pacific Islands wing in the museum is pretty amazing.

As for Koolau's question... well, let's just say that you may want to cross your fingers for Big Stone Head to get published already (if for no other reason than so the rest of you can have the relief of hearing me stop whining about it), and your question will be answered in a LOT of detail, with photos, dates, locations...

On 2006-10-17 23:30, Koolau wrote:If it's in a museum and they let you touch it, it's probably not the real thing.

But that begs the question - are there any actual moai on display outside of Rapa Nui? If so, where?

There is a very famous one in the British Museum called Hoa Hakananai'a, which is beautifully carved. I guess most of the in-situ ones on the island looked this good before the ravages of time and weather took their toll. I have a book they published on him :

We have one here in NZ too at Otago Museum, only a baby and not a particularly flash specimen, especially compared to the chap above, but it is the real deal apparently:

On 2006-09-28 15:10, populuxe wrote:I went to the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, towards the back was a huge Easter Island Moai. (insert chorus here). I am a huge tiki fan, I immediately went towards the sculpture and gave him a big hug...

YOU DUM DUM!!! GIMME GUM GUM...
_________________One day, there will be a cure for tiki,
That's the day I'll throw my rum away...